Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1887-10-28
TOMMY BOBBlTT.


wagon and set him down on the door
steps. What.a little fellow he was, and
what wondering, pleased look there
was in his eyes. He haG on coarse
shoes, blue check apron, and his pretty
! brown hair was cropped close under the
shabby cap. 1t was almost 100 cold Il
dav for such little boy to be without Il
coat. Mrs. Pritcharl took him by the
| hand to lead him in. and the little hand
clung contidingly to hers.
Whats your name, dearE" she asked
pleasantly.
Tommy Bobbitt," he answered read
ily. Am l going to stay here?"
"Folks all dead 2" said Mrs. Pritchard'
mother went month or so back.
/ told them over to the county house we'd
take him and try him; and if he suited,
we'd keep him aud do well by him. We
| don't know what kind Of stock he is yet ;
and if | find any mean, dishonest things
in him, back he goes. | don't want TO
adopt a dishonest boy"
go, | know Tommy will be nice lit
tie boy" said the wife kindly.
The Pritchards were farming people,
and well. DO. They had never bad a
child of their own, and, after much con-
sideration, had decided to adopt 4 boy,
when suitable one could be found.
Word reached them that child four
years old had been left upon the town
and Mr.. Pritchard. on driving over to
see it, had brought the little fellow home
on trial.
Nobody knew how dreary and forlorn
il had been in the poor-house for four
year-o old boy, suddenly left friendless.
But now, in his warm, new home, he
frightened into rosy, pretty boy. lie
had new shoes and stockings, and Mrs.
Pritchard made him LITTLE coat, with
mothprly instinct growing in her heart
with every stitch. He learned the diff
ferent rooms, and ran about them fear
lessly; he made funny speeches, he
Jumped and laughed like other happy
boys, climbed boldly on farmer Pritch-
ards knee when that good man sat down
to take his ease after supper.
"TIe's got meat in him, said the farm
or, nodding approyingly, "but | don t
know whether he's honest yet. That's
the thing on my mind"
Tommy had been there a week-had
one week of sunshine when the black
cloud came down upon him.
Farmer Pritchard had a cough which
was apt to trouble him at night, and on
the bureau near the head of his bed he
kept few gum drops, which he could
reach out and get to soothe his throat
when the coughing came on. One fore
uoon CHANGING to get into the bedroom,
his eyes fell on the little paper bag, aud
he saw that there was not single gum
drop left.
That rogue, Tommy, has been here, J"
he said to himself. 81 knew there were
five or six when | went to bed last
night; and, for wonder, | did not have
to take single one. TOMMY! Tommy !!
Look here Have you been getting my
gum-drops ?"
Tommy, who was playing in the door,
looked up brightly and said: mo; |
did not get any"
"Did you take them, Lucy?" asked
the farmer, turning to his wife.
Mrs. Pritchard had not touched them,
and her heart sank as she said so; for
who was there left to do it but little
Tommy? Her husbands face grew
grave.
Tommy" said he, you need not be
afraid of the truth. Didn't you take
the gum-drops?"
"No, sir,' replied Tommy readily.
ooh, yes, you did, Tommy. Now tell
the truth"
"No. | didn't"
"This is bad, very bad, indeed" said
Mr.. Pritchard Sternly. This is what |
have been afraid Of"
80, Tommy" pleaded Mrs. Pritch-
ard, "if you took them, do say So.
III he took them" repeated her hus-
band. "why its clear as daylight. He
has been running in and out of the room
all the morning"
But Tommy still denied the deed, g,
though the farmer commanded aud the
wife implore1. Mr.. Pritchard's face
( grew OminOus.
"Ill give you till noon to tell the
TRUTH he said, "and then If you don't
coufess-why, I'll have nothing to do
with boy who lies. Wen ride back to
the poor farm this very afternoon"
80, Joseph ~ said Mrs. Pritchard, fol-
lowing her husband to the door, ''he is
so little. Give him one more trial"
Lucy" he said firmly, "when a
youngster tells falsehood like tina.
with so calm face he Is ready to tell
them by the dozen. III have nothing
TO Go with boy VINO lies. Perhaps the
fear of going back will bring him to his
senses"
/ He went out to his work, and Mrs.
Pritchard returned to Tommy, aud
talked with him long while, very kind
ly and Tersuasivtly, but all TO no effect.
He replied "a often as she asked him,
that he had not touched the gum-drops.
At noon farmer Pritchard came into